History of Alexander Zverev in Timeline
Alexander Zverev is a German professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 2 by the ATP. His notable achievements include winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and titles at the ATP Finals in 2018 and 2021. Zverev has secured 22 ATP Tour singles titles and two doubles titles, and he was a finalist at the 2020 US Open.
1986: Consecutive Top 10 Victories
In 1986, Zverev became the first teenager since Boris Becker to record three consecutive victories against top-ten opponents.
1990: Parents' Move to Germany
Zverev's parents, who were professional tennis players in the Soviet Union, moved to Germany in 1990 and began working as tennis instructors.
1995: ATP Finals Victory and Youngest Champion in a Decade
In 1995, Zverev won the ATP Finals, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. He became the youngest champion since Djokovic a decade earlier and the first German to win the season-ending championships since Boris Becker in 1995.
April 1997: Birth of Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev was born in April 1997.
April 1997: Birth into a Tennis Family
Alexander Zverev was born in Hamburg, Germany to Russian parents, Irina Zvereva and Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev, both former professional tennis players. His older brother, Mischa, also pursued a career in professional tennis.
2000: Tommy Haas Wins Olympic Silver
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Tommy Haas won the silver medal in men's singles tennis, marking a significant achievement for German tennis.
2004: First Top 20 Victory Since Richard Gasquet
In 2004, Alexander Zverev became the first 17-year-old to defeat a top 20 opponent since Richard Gasquet.
2005: Youngest ITF Junior World Champion
Zverev's successes in 2013 earned him the title of ITF Junior World Champion, making him the youngest recipient since Donald Young in 2005.
2006: Youngest Semifinalist Since Marin Cilic
In 2006, Alexander Zverev became the first 17-year-old to reach an ATP semifinal since Marin Cilic.
2006: Youngest Top 20 Debut Since Novak Djokovic
In 2006, Zverev became the youngest player to debut in the top 20 since Novak Djokovic.
2007: First Masters Title and Top 10 Entry
In 2007, Zverev won his first Masters title at the Rome Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. This victory made him the youngest Masters champion since Djokovic in 2007 and the first champion born in the 1990s. He also entered the top 10 for the first time.
2007: Two Masters Titles and First Player Outside Big Four to Achieve Feat
In 2007, Zverev won two Masters titles in the same season at the Washington Open and the Canadian Open, becoming the first player outside the Big Four (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) to achieve this since David Nalbandian in 2007.
2009: Youngest Challenger Title Winner
In 2009, at just 17 years and 2 months old, Alexander Zverev became the youngest player to win a Challenger title since Bernard Tomic, and the twelfth youngest in history.
January 2011: First Junior Match
At 13 years old, Zverev began his junior tennis journey, participating in his first match in January 2011.
2011: Early Attempts at ATP Qualifying
At the age of 14, Zverev attempted to qualify for three ATP tournaments but was unsuccessful.
August 2012: Professional Debut and First Final
Zverev made his professional debut in August 2012 and reached his first professional final later that year.
2012: First ITF Junior Titles
Zverev secured his first two titles on the ITF junior circuit in 2012.
2013: Jez Green Joins Zverev's Team
Fitness trainer Jez Green, known for his work with Andy Murray, joined Zverev's team in 2013.
2013: Breakthrough in Junior Singles
In 2013, Zverev made significant strides in junior singles, winning the Trofeo Bonfiglio and becoming the youngest champion in the tournament's history.
2013: ATP and Challenger Debuts
Zverev made his main draw debut on the ATP Tour and the ATP Challenger Tour in 2013.
2014: Stan Wawrinka's Australian Open Victory
In 2014, Stan Wawrinka won the Australian Open, a significant achievement in his career.
2014: Junior World No. 1 and Australian Open Junior Title
In 2014, Zverev achieved the top ranking in junior tennis and won the junior singles title at the Australian Open.
2014: Australian Open Junior Title and Transition to Professional Career
Zverev triumphed in the junior singles event at the 2014 Australian Open. Following this victory, he shifted his focus entirely to his professional tennis career.
2014: First Professional Title
Zverev won his first professional title at the Braunschweig Challenger in 2014.
2016: Hopman Cup Debut
In 2016, Zverev made his first appearance at the Hopman Cup, playing with Sabine Lisicki for the German team.
2016: Breakthrough at Open Sud de France and Near Upset of Nadal
In 2016, Zverev reached the semifinals at the Open Sud de France and his second career doubles final with his brother. He also nearly upset Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters, narrowly losing after having a match point.
2016: First ATP Title and Top 20 Debut
In 2016, Zverev won his first ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open, defeating Stan Wawrinka in the final. This win, along with other strong performances, helped him break into the ATP top 20, making him the youngest player to do so since Novak Djokovic in 2006.
2016: Davis Cup Debut
Zverev made his debut at the Davis Cup representing Germany, although the team lost to the Czech Republic.
2016: Struggles with Double Faults
Zverev struggled with double faults in 2016, highlighting an area of inconsistency in his service game despite his height advantage.
2017: Partnership with Juan Carlos Ferrero
Zverev hired former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero as his coach during the Washington Open in 2017.
2017: Davis Cup Loss
Zverev participated in the Davis Cup, winning his first match in the tournament but ultimately, the German team lost to Belgium.
2017: Interests and Friendships
In 2017, Alexander Zverev revealed that his tennis idol is Roger Federer. He also expressed his fandom for the Miami Heat of the NBA and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball and golf. His best friend on the tour is Brazilian doubles specialist Marcelo Melo.
2017: First Masters 1000 Title
In 2017, Zverev won his first Masters 1000 title at the Italian Open in Rome. This victory marked a significant milestone in his career.
2017: Laver Cup Debut
In 2017, Zverev played in the Laver Cup for the first time, securing two singles wins for Team Europe and contributing to their victory over Team World.
2017: Improved Results and First Masters Quarterfinal
In 2017, Zverev significantly improved his performances in higher-level tournaments. He reached the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, a Masters event, and won both the singles and doubles events at the Open Sud de France, claiming his first doubles title with his brother.
August 2018: Collaboration with Ivan Lendl Begins
Zverev hired former world No. 1 Ivan Lendl as his coach in August 2018, hoping to elevate his game and achieve greater success.
2018: Miami Open Final
In 2018, Zverev reached the final of the Miami Open. This was his best result at the tournament until reaching the semifinals in a later year.
2018: Breakthrough in Serve and Return Game
In 2018, Zverev significantly improved his service game, ranking 19th in serve rating, a considerable improvement from when he first broke into the top 20. He excelled at first serve percentages and winning first serve points. However, his second serve remained a weakness.
2018: First Davis Cup Tie Win
In 2018, Zverev won his first ever Davis Cup tie, leading Germany to victory against Australia.
2018: Clinching Laver Cup Victory for Team Europe
Zverev played a crucial role in Team Europe's Laver Cup victory in 2018 by winning the deciding match.
2018: Laver Cup Victory
Zverev played a crucial role in the 2018 Laver Cup, securing the win for Team Europe against Kevin Anderson.
2018: First ATP Finals Title
Zverev won his first ATP Finals title in 2018.
2018: Hopman Cup Final
Zverev, along with Angelique Kerber, lead the German team to the final of the Hopman Cup but lost the cup to Switzerland.
July 2019: Split with Ivan Lendl
Citing disappointing results and personal differences, Zverev and Lendl parted ways in July 2019.
2019: Another Laver Cup Victory
Zverev continued his winning streak at the Laver Cup, securing another victory for Team Europe, this time against Milos Raonic.
2019: Hopman Cup Final
Zverev, along with Angelique Kerber, lead the German team to the final of the Hopman Cup but lost the cup to Switzerland.
2019: Another Clinching Laver Cup Win
Zverev repeated his Laver Cup heroics in 2019, securing the win for Team Europe once again.
2019: Partnership with Kerber
In 2024 at the United Cup, Zverev partnered up with Angelique Kerber for the first time since 2019.
2019: Davis Cup Qualifying Round
Zverev and the German team competed in the Davis Cup qualifying round, successfully securing their place in the finals with a win against Hungary.
2019: Alleged Escalation of Abuse
The second article by Rothenberg detailed an alleged escalation of abuse by Zverev against Sharypova in October 2019.
2019: Alleged Abuse at Laver Cup
Sharypova alleged that Zverev physically abused her during the 2019 Laver Cup, a claim he denied.
2019: Asian Swing and European Indoor Season
In 2019, Zverev won his 21st title in Chengdu and reached the semifinals in Beijing. His form dipped in subsequent tournaments, losing in Shanghai and Tokyo. He made the quarterfinals in Vienna and the third round in Paris during the European indoor hardcourt season.
2019: 2019 Season Highlights
In 2019, Zverev reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, was a runner-up at the Mexican Open, and won his only title of the year at the Geneva Open. He reached the quarterfinals of the French Open but struggled during the grass court season. He attributed his early season difficulties to a legal dispute with his former agent.
May 2020: Alleged Physical Assault
Patea alleged that Zverev physically assaulted her during a dispute in May 2020.
May 2020: Alleged Abuse Against Brenda Patea
A court filing alleged that Zverev physically abused Brenda Patea in Berlin in May 2020.
June 2020: Criticism Following Adria Tour Attendance
Despite initially announcing self-isolation after the Adria Tour, where several players tested positive for COVID-19, Zverev was seen at a party, drawing criticism from fellow players Nick Kyrgios and Katie Boulter.
October 2020: Abuse Allegations Surface
Olga Sharypova, Zverev's ex-girlfriend, accused him of physical and emotional abuse during their relationship, including an incident at the 2019 Laver Cup. Zverev denied the allegations.
2020: ATP Cup Debut
Zverev debuted at the ATP Cup representing Germany, but the team did not progress past the group stage.
2020: Persistent Double Fault Issues
Zverev's struggles with double faults continued in 2020, indicating ongoing inconsistency in his service game.
2020: Olympic Gold and US Open Final
In 2020, Zverev achieved two significant milestones: winning the gold medal in men's singles tennis at the Tokyo Olympics and reaching his first major final at the US Open.
2020: Start of 2020 Season
Zverev began 2020 at the ATP Cup, where Germany finished third in their group. At the Australian Open, he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal, losing to Dominic Thiem. He pledged to donate all his prize money if he won the tournament to Australian bushfire relief efforts.
2020: Australian Open Semifinals and US Open Final Loss
In 2020, Zverev reached the semifinals of the Australian Open. He also reached the final of the US Open, where he lost to Dominic Thiem after being two sets up, his first such loss in a five-set match.
2020: French Open Semifinal and Final
In 2020, Zverev reached his first ever French Open final after defeating Rafael Nadal, David Goffin, Tallon Griekspoor, Holger Rune, Alex de Minaur, and Casper Ruud. This was also his first major final since the 2020 US Open.
2020: Working with David Ferrer
In 2020, Zverev began working with former World Number 3 and 2013 French Open finalist David Ferrer as his coach.
2020: All-Court Abilities and Pursuit of Grass-Court Success
By 2020, despite having won titles on hard and clay courts, Zverev had yet to secure a title on grass, though he reached two finals and even defeated Roger Federer on the surface.
2020: ATP 250 Victories in Cologne
In October 2020, Zverev won two consecutive ATP 250 tournaments in Cologne, defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime and Diego Schwartzman in the finals. These tournaments were added to the tour due to cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 2021: Parting Ways with David Ferrer
Zverev and his coach David Ferrer, a former World Number 3, announced their split in January 2021.
July 2021: Grass Court Season and Return to Top 5
Zverev's grass court season in 2021 included a second-round loss in Halle and a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon, his best result at the tournament. This performance helped him return to the top 5 in the ATP rankings.
August 2021: Second Article Published, Escalation of Alleged Abuse
A second article by Ben Rothenberg in Slate magazine detailed further allegations of abuse by Zverev against Sharypova, including an alleged escalation of violence in October 2019.
November 2021: Rolex Paris Masters and Career-High Ranking
In November 2021, Zverev reached the semifinals of the Rolex Paris Masters, losing to Daniil Medvedev. This performance helped him equal his career-high ranking of World No. 3.
2021: Personal Life and Relationships
In 2021, Alexander Zverev's daughter was born with ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea. Additionally, since 2021, he has been dating German actress Sophia Thomalla.
2021: Zverev Obtains Injunction, Slate Appeals, Carillo Withdraws
Zverev successfully obtained an injunction from a Berlin court against Slate, preventing them from publishing the abuse allegations without stronger evidence. Slate appealed the decision, and commentator Mary Carillo withdrew from the 2021 Laver Cup in protest of the ATP's handling of the situation.
2021: ATP Cup Semifinal
In 2021, Zverev helped Germany reach the ATP Cup semi-final, where they lost to Russia.
2021: Departure of Jez Green
After working together for around seven years, Jez Green left Zverev's team in 2021.
2021: BNP Paribas Open
At the 2021 BNP Paribas Open, Zverev reached the quarterfinals, defeating Jenson Brooksby, Andy Murray, and Gaël Monfils before losing to Taylor Fritz despite holding two match points.
2021: First Team Event Win Since 2021
Zverev's win with Team Germany at the 2024 United Cup marked his first team event win since the Laver Cup in 2021.
2021: Second ATP Finals Title
Zverev won his second ATP Finals title in 2021, defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the final. This win solidified his place as one of the top players in the world.
2021: Early 2021 Season
Zverev started 2021 by reaching the ATP Cup semi-finals with Germany and then the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. He won his 14th ATP title in Acapulco, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
2021: Second ATP Finals Title
Zverev secured his second ATP Finals victory in 2021.
2021: BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open
Zverev reached the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2021 and the semifinals of the Miami Open, his best result there since 2018.
2021: Australian Open Quarterfinals
Zverev reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2021. He achieved his first victory against a top-5 player in a Grand Slam, defeating Carlos Alcaraz.
2021: Return to ATP Finals
Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2021. He won against Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev but lost to Daniil Medvedev, ending his 2023 season without reaching the semifinals.
2021: Laver Cup Win
Zverev contributed to Team Europe's win at the Laver Cup in 2021 by winning his singles match against John Isner.
2021: Clay Court Season Begins
Zverev began his clay court season in 2021 with a third-round loss in Monte Carlo to David Goffin and a quarterfinal loss in Munich to Ilya Ivashka.
2021: Career-Best Results
Zverev achieved his best results on the professional tour in 2021.
2021: Olympic and Masters 1000 Success
In 2021, Zverev won the Olympic gold medal in men's singles, defeating Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov. He then won the Western & Southern Open, his second Masters 1000 title of the year, by defeating Andrey Rublev in the final.
2021: Last Masters Title Before Rome
In 2021, Zverev won a Masters title, which would be his last such victory until winning the Italian Open in Rome three years later.
June 2022: First Match Win Since Injury
At the 2023 Australian Open, Zverev wins his first match since June 2022, following an injury.
June 2022: French Open and Injury
In June 2022 at the French Open, Zverev retired from his semifinal match against Rafael Nadal due to a severe ankle injury, tearing all three lateral ligaments. He underwent surgery and missed Wimbledon, but still achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 2 on June 13th, 2022.
August 2022: Diabetes Diagnosis and Foundation Launch
In August 2022, Alexander Zverev announced that he has type 1 diabetes, having been diagnosed at the age of three. He launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation that year to support people with diabetes.
2022: Start of 2022 Season
Zverev began his 2022 season by representing Germany at the ATP Cup. Despite winning matches against Cameron Norrie and Taylor Fritz, Germany did not advance past the group stage. He was then defeated in the fourth round of the Australian Open by Denis Shapovalov.
2022: Ankle Injury and Recovery
Zverev's momentum was hampered by an ankle injury sustained at the French Open in 2022. Following recovery, he returned to the top 10 rankings.
2022: Clay Court Season and Ranking Drop
Throughout 2022, Zverev played in various clay court tournaments, including the Monte-Carlo Masters, BMW Open, Madrid Open, Italian Open, Geneva Open, and French Open. Despite some victories, he also faced losses and his ranking fell from 16 to 27.
2022: Racket Abuse and Tournament Default
Zverev was defaulted from the 2022 Mexican Open after repeatedly striking the umpire's chair with his racket. He received fines and a suspended ban from the ATP and issued an apology.
January 2023: ATP Announces No Punishment for Zverev
Following a 15-month investigation, the ATP announced in January 2023 that they would not punish Zverev due to insufficient evidence to substantiate the abuse allegations.
July 2023: New Allegations of Abuse
Allegations of physical abuse from Brenda Patea, Zverev's ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, became public through a court filing in July 2023.
October 2023: Penalty Order Issued Against Zverev
A Berlin court issued a penalty order against Zverev in October 2023 for alleged physical abuse against Brenda Patea in May 2020. Zverev appealed the order, leading to a public trial.
November 2023: Patea Publicly Alleges Abuse
Brenda Patea, in her first public statement about the alleged abuse, said that Zverev pushed her into a wall and choked her during an argument in May 2020.
2023: Return to ATP Finals
Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2021. He won against Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev but lost to Daniil Medvedev, ending his 2023 season without reaching the semifinals.
2023: United Cup Debut
Zverev represented Germany at the inaugural United Cup, where the team lost to Czech Republic and the USA, and were eliminated in the group stage.
2023: US Open Incident and Quarterfinal Loss
During the 2023 US Open, Zverev stopped a match to report a fan who he alleged shouted a Nazi-associated phrase. He ultimately lost the quarterfinal match to Carlos Alcaraz after a grueling five-set victory against Jannik Sinner.
2023: French Open Insulin Controversy
During the 2023 French Open, Alexander Zverev was disallowed from injecting insulin on-court, leading to criticism from the International Diabetes Federation and the JDRF. Tournament organizers later clarified that Zverev would be permitted to inject insulin on-court.
January 2024: Appointment to Player Council and "Break Point" Appearance Draw Criticism
Zverev's appointment to the ATP Players Advisory Council and his feature on the Netflix series "Break Point" in January 2024 sparked criticism due to the pending domestic abuse allegations against him.
May 2024: Trial Begins in Berlin
Zverev's trial for domestic abuse allegations began in a Berlin Criminal Court on May 31, 2024, drawing significant attention due to the timing coinciding with his semifinal run at the Australian Open.
June 2024: Trial Settlement Reached
On 7 June 2024, the trial involving Alexander Zverev was terminated after a settlement was reached out of court. Zverev agreed to pay €200,000, with €150,000 going to the German State Treasury and €50,000 to charitable organizations. The settlement did not include an admission of guilt, and Zverev will not have a criminal record under Section 153a of the German Code of Criminal Procedure. The original €450,000 penalty order was also terminated.
June 2024: Assault Allegations Settlement
Zverev faced assault allegations from former partners, including Brenda Patea. A criminal case brought by Patea was settled out of court in June 2024.
2024: United Cup Victory
Zverev led Team Germany to victory in the 2024 United Cup, winning against Team Poland in the final. This marked his first team event win since the Laver Cup in 2021.
2024: Clay Season and Rome Masters Victory
Zverev's 2024 clay season included a quarterfinal loss at the BMW Open and a fourth-round exit at the Madrid Open. However, he won the Italian Open in Rome, his first Masters title since 2021.